Needlework frame



June 5, 1951 c. w. MORSE NEEDLEWORK FRAME Filed Dec. 24, 1947 INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD W. MORSE ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

2,555,896 NEEDLEWORK FRAME Clifford W. Morse, Normandy, Mo.

Application December 24, 1947, Serial No. 793,703

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to needlework frames used in themaking of needlepoint, embroidery, and similar hand work.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a convenient,lightweight, and easily handled frame for supporting fabrics in tightlydrawn position during the application thereto of various types ofembroidery work, such as needlepoint, and the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a frame ofthe type stated which is rugged and durable and may be convenientlycarried from place to place by the user and may be set up on a table,rested across the arms of a chair, or disposed in any other suitable orcon venient position as may suit the needs or requirements of the user.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a frameof the type stated in which the work may be progressively moved acrossthe stitching area without making it necessary to dismantle the frame orotherwise rearrange the fabric which is held thereon.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a frame whichwill hold a piece of fabric while it is being embroidered without unduestretching or distortion of the fabric or of the decorative stitches,such as needlepoint or embroidery.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a frame ofthe type stated having means for applying any desired amount of tensionto the fabric which is mounted and supported there- It is also an objectof the present invention to provide a needlework frame adapted formaking embroidery, needlework, and the like having a working surfacewhich facilitates movement of the users needle.

With theabove and other objects in view, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, and combination of parts presentlydescribed and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the needlework frame constructed inaccordance with and embodying the present invention and showing a pieceof fabric in position on said frame for being embroidered;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the needlework frame with the apronsremoved;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the needlework frame;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 4-4 of Figure2.

Referring now in more detail, and by reference characters to thedrawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, A designates a needlework frame constructed preferably ofwood or plastic and comprising end members I, I, of somewhat invertedT-shape having a base portion 2 and an upwardly extending central legportion 3. Secured to the outer faces of the end members I, I, and alongthe vertical center line of the leg portion, are upstanding supportmembers 4, 4, extending beyond the upper margin of the end members I, I.Mounted rigidly at their opposite ends in, and extending lengthwisebetween, the base portions 2 of the end members I, I, are stationaryparallel rods 5. Similarly, extending between, and secured to, the upperends of the support members a, is a relatively wide transverse bar 6engaged along its downwardly presented margin with the top surface ofthe leg portions 3. Secured upon the upper margin of the transverse bar6 is a half-round, curved metallic strip or bead "I, the surface ofwhich is flush with the upper margin of the support members a. Rotatablymounted at their upper ends in, and extending between, the base portions2 of the end members I, I, are horizontal rollers 8, 8', somewhat largerin diametral size than, and having their longitudinal axes insubstantially the same plane as, the rods 5.

Adjacent the end member I, and inwardly thereof, is a relatively narrowplate member I0 seated upon the rods 5 and being provided centrally withan aperture II. Extending down wardly through the aperture II is a boltI2, the lower end of which projects through an aligned aperture I3 in atransversely extending brake bar I4 loosely supported from the rods 5 bymeans of screws I5. Upon its downwardly projecting end, the bolt I2 isprovided with a wing nut I6. The brake bar I4 is parallel to, andsubstantially longer than, the plate member ID, and is disposed at itsends beneath the rollers 8, 8. Suitably secured to the upper surface ofthe brake bar I4, for braking or clamping engagement with the rollers 8,8, are friction pads H, II, fabri cated preferably of rubber or othersimilar ma- .terial.

Tacked, or otherwise suitably mounted, upon the rollers 8, 8, areso-called aprons I8, I8, respectively, formed of a suitable length oftightly woven, and substantially non-stretchable fabric. The aprons I8,I8, are wrapped around their respective rollers 8, 8, and are free attheir outer ends so as to extend inwardly beneath the rods 5 andupwardly toward the transverse bar 6 for stitched securement to thepiece of fabric being worked upon, substantially in the manner shown inFigure 1.

In use, the Wing nut I6 is loosened, dropping the brake bar l4 and itsassociated friction pads l1, l1, downwardly out of contact with therollers 8, 8'. A section of fabric f, upon which the needlework is to bedone, is hung loosely over the bead 1 of the bar 6 and then stitched,pinned, or otherwise suitably secured at its opposite ends,respectively, to the free ends of the aprons l8, H3. The rollers 8, 8,are then manually rotated, rolling the aprons i 8, i8, up and drawingthe fabric f tightly over the bar 6. More or less of the one apron I8may be rolled up on its roller so that a very narrow area of the fabricf on which it is desired to do the needlework will be drawn tightly overthe bead I, all as best seen in Figure 1. If the fabric section 7 isvery long, a portion of it will be rolled up around one or the other ofthe rollers 8, 8', or, for that matter, portions of it may be rolled uparound both of the rollers 8, 8. It will thus be seen that the frame Ais capable of accommodating a relatively wide range of different fabricwidths and lengths.

When the fabric section f is properly positioned upon the frame A, thewing nut 16 is tightened drawing the brake .bar l4 and its associatedfriction pads H, H, up into snug engagement with the rollers B, 8,respectively. Any desired amount of tension may be applied, althoughordinarily just enough tension will be applied to hold the rollersstationary against the normal pull of the fabric so that the fabric willbe held in reasonably tight position without undue stretching of thefibers. Actually, the rollers 8, 8, may be manually rolled in oppositedirections, drawing the fabric as tight as the user desires, and thewing nut 16 tightened down so as to hold the rollers 8, 8', insubstantially immobile or nonrotatable condition.

The user then works the line of needlepoint so positioned over the bead1, which, by its smoothness and curvature, provides an easy slidingsurface for the users needle as it projects through the material. At thecompletion of the particular line of the needlepoint, the friction padsl1, l1 may be sufliciently removed from contact with the rollers 8, 8,by manipulation of the wing nut [6 to permit the user to turn therollers 8, 8', in order to bring another line into position for working.The parallel rods 5 aid in maintaining the tautness of the material whenin position for working and additionally prevent undue slack when therollers 8, 8, are freed for rotation. By the use of the aprons I8, I 8',the marginal portions of the fabric 1 may be positioned tautly over thetransverse bar 6 and rendered accessible.

It will be noted that the portion of the fabric being worked upon isbent over the arcuate top of the bar 6 so that a relatively narrow areais presented upwardly along the center of the arc of the bead 1 foractual application of the stitches. By reason of the fact that thematerial extends downwardly and away from this narrow working line onboth sides, the interstices of the fabric will be opened slightly tofacilitate the penetration of the needle without imposing andunnecessary stretching forces upon the fibers of the fabric and,furthermore, the needle may be pushed through the fabric in a more orless horizontal direction, thereby materially facilitating the insertionof stitches into the fabric and accelerating the rate at which the usermay make the needlepoint or other similar embroidery stitches beingapplied to the fabric. In this same connection, it should be noted thatthe hardened arcuate surface of the head 1 guides the point of theneedle through the fabric in a uniquely convenient manner particularlysuitable to the making of needlepoint and eliminates the inconvenienceof pushing the needle vertically through the fabric and then reachingunderneath the fabric to push the needle back up vertically in thereverse direction, as has heretofore been the practice in this type ofneedlework.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of theneedlework frame may be made and substituted for those herein shown anddescribed without departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A needlework frame comprising spaced parallel end members each havinga relatively Wide horizontal base portion and a centrally disposedupwardly extending leg, a transverse bar rigidly mounted at its endsupon and extending horizontally between the upper ends of said legs, theupwardly presented face of said bar providing a working surface, a pairof spaced parallel rods mounted at their ends in and extending betweenthe base portions approximately beneath the bar, a pair of rollersoperatively mounted at their ends in and extending between the baseportions, said rollers being respectively disposed in outwardly spacedrelation to and on opposite sides of the rods, and means for securing tothe rollers the ends of a length of fabric upon which the needlework isto be performed in such a manner that the fabric will extend from oneroller inwardly under one rod thence upwardly over the bar anddownwardly beneath the other rod and thence outwardly to the otherroller.

2. A needlework frame comprising spaced parallel end members each havinga relatively wide horizontal base portion and a centrally disposedupwardly extending leg, a transverse bar rigidly mounted at its endsupon and extending horizontally between the upper ends of said legs, theupwardly presented face of said bar being arcuate for providing aworking surface over which the users needle will easily slide duringembroidery and the like of the work thereon supported, a pair of spacedparallel rods mounted at their ends in and extending between the baseportions approximately beneath the bar, a pair of rollers operativelymounted at their ends in and extending between the base portions, saidrollers being respectively disposed in outwardly spaced relation to andon opposite sides of the rods, means for securing to the rollers theends of a length of fabric upon which the needlework is to be performedin such a manner that the fabric will extend from one roller inwardlyunder one rod thence upwardly over the bar and downwardly beneath theother rod and thence outwardly to the other roller, and braking meansmounted on the frame for operative engagement with said rollers.

3. A needlework frame comprising spaced parallel end members each havinga relatively wide horizontal base portion and a centrally disposedupwardly extending leg, a transverse bar rigidly mounted at its endsupon and extending horizontally between the upper ends of said legs, apair of spaced parallel rods mounted at their ends in and extendingbetween the base portions approximately beneath the bar, a pair ofrollers operatively mounted at their ends in and extending between thebase portions, said rollers being respectively disposed in outwardlyspaced relation to and on opposite sides of the rods, means for securingto the rollers the ends of a length of fabric upon which the needleworkis to be performed in such a manner that the fabric will extend from oneroller inwardly under one rod thence upwardly over the bar anddownwardly beneath the other rod and thence outwardly to the otherroller, a flexible bar shiftably mounted upon and depending from saidrods and extend ing laterally outwardly on opposite sides thereof havingits ends disposed beneath the rollers, friction pads mounted on the endsof said bar for braking engagement with the rollers, and means foradjustably urging the bar upwardly for optionally increasing anddecreasing the degree of frictional pressure applied to the rollers bythe friction pads.

4. A needlework frame comprising spaced parallel end members each havinga relatively wide horizontal base portion and a centrally disposedupwardly extending leg, a transverse bar rigidly mounted at its endsupon and extending horizontally between the upper ends of said legs,said bar being provided upon its upper longitudinal margin with anupwardly presented arcuate metallic bead for providing a working surfaceover which the users needle will easily slide during embroidery and thelike of the work thereon supported, a pair of spaced parallel rodsmounted at their ends in and extending between the base portionsapproximately beneath the bar, a pair of rollers operatively mounted attheir ends in and extending between the base portions, said rollersbeing respectively disposed in outwardly spaced relation to and onopposite sides of the rods, and means for securing to the rollers theends of a length of fabric upon which the needlework is to be performedin such a manner that the rabric will extend from one roller inwardlyunder one rod thence upwardly over the bar and downwardly beneath theother rod and thence outwardly to the other roller.

5. A needlework frame comprising spaced parallel end members each havinga, centrally disposed upwardly extending leg, a transverse bar rigidlymounted at its ends upon and extending horizontally between the upperends of said legs, the upwardly presented face of said bar being arcuatefor providing a working surface over which the users needle will easilyslide during embroidery and the like of the work thereon supported, apair of spaced parallel rods mounted at their ends in and extendingbetween the lower portions of the end members approximately beneath thebar, a pair of rollers operatively mounted at their ends in andextending between the lower portions of the end members, said rollersbeing respectively disposed in outwardly spaced relation to and onopposite sides of the rods, and means for securing to the rollers theends of a length of fabric upon which the needlework is to be performedin such a manner that the fabric will extend from one roller inwardlyunder one rod thence upwardly over the bar and downwardly beneath theother rod and thence outwardly to the other roller.

6. A needlework frame comprising spaced parallel end members each havinga relatively wide horizontal base portion and a centrally disposedupwardly extending leg, a transverse bar rigidly mounted at its endsupon and extending horizontally between the upper ends of said legs, apair of spaced parallel rods mounted at their ends in and extendingbetween the base portions approximately beneath the bar, a pair ofrollers operatively mounted at their ends in and extending between thebase portions, said rollers being respectively disposed in outwardlyspaced relation to and on opposite sides of the rods, a flexible barshiftably mounted upon and depending from said rods and extendinglaterally outwardly on opposite sides thereof having its ends disposedbeneath the rollers, friction pads mounted on the ends of said bar forbraking engagement with the rollers, and means for adjustably urging thebar upwardly for optionally increasing and decreasing the degree offrictional pressure applied to the rollers by the friction pads.

'7. A needlework frame comprising spaced parallel end members eachhaving a relatively 'wide horizontal base portion and a centrallydisposed upwardly extendin leg, a transverse bar rigidly mounted at itsends upon and extending horizontally between the upper ends of saidlegs, a pair of spaced parallel rods mounted at their ends in andextending between the base portions approximately beneath the bar, apair of rollers operatively mounted at their ends in and extendingbetween the base portions, said rollers being respectively disposed inoutwardly spaced relation to and on opposite sides of the rods, aflexible bar shiftably mounted upon .and depending from said rods andextending laterally outwardly on opposite sides thereof having its endsdisposed beneath the rollers for braking engagement with the rollers,and means for adjustably urging the bar upwardly for optionallyincreasing and decreasing the degree of frictional pressure applied tothe rollers by the rods.

8. A needlework frame comprising spaced parallel end members each havinga relatively wide horizontal base portion and centrally disposedupwardly extending leg, a transverse bar rigidly mounted at its endsupon and extending horizontally between the upper ends of said legs, apair of spaced parallel rods mounted at their ends in and extendingbetween the base portions approximately beneath the bar, a pair ofrollers operatively mounted at their ends in and extending between thebase portions, said rollers being respectively disposed in outwardlyspaced relation to and on opposite sides of the rods, a bar shiftablymounted upon said rods and extending laterally outwardly on oppositesides thereof having its ends disposed adjacent the rollers for brakingengagement therewith, and means for adj ustably urging the bar upwardlyfor optionally increasing and decreasing the degree of frictionalpressure applied to the rollers by the rods.

CLIFFORD W. MORSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 98,361 Ellis Dec. 28, 1869158,659 Wheeler Jan. 12, 1875 1,115,573 Ricks Nov. 3, 1914 1,643,351Simons Sept. 27, 1927 1,724,215 Moran Aug. 13, 1929 2,013,128 BroekerSept. 3, 1935 2,165,496 McCall et a1. July 11, 1939

